As you might expect, competing at the Rio Olympics was a pretty big deal for Australia’s then 19-year-old pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall – especially as he only qualified three days short of the deadline. But the post-Games reaction he encountered back home had a similar impact upon him.

Interesting facts:Originally I was a soccer and cricket player, playing those sports until I was about 16, after which I turned my attention to athletics. I had a few successes in the junior ranks, including an Australian Junior 3km Steeplechase. I didn't start to run really well until I met Ken in 2002 and came under his guidance, training with people like Kim Gillard, Nick Cope, Dave Evans, Simon Rintel and Blair Martin. His squad of "old boys" really pulled me along and helped me to rapidly improve. We have a tight-knit squad which can be attributed to the strong results I, and they, have achieved over the years. Outside of athletics, I enjoy playing some backyard cricket and soccer. Bodyboarding is also another passion of mine, though I'm only average at it.I also work as a SOE Engineer in Information Technology. Computers are pretty much second nature to me, and are what dictates my career.